US Sailing and the America’s Cup Form New Partnership

Special America’s Cup Spectator Benefits Provided to US Sailing Members

US Sailing, the national governing body of the sport, and the America’s Cup, rich in history, tradition and excellence, and the oldest trophy in international sport, have entered a new partnership.

The America’s Cup will provide US Sailing members with special rights to purchase VIP hospitality tickets to America’s Cup events taking place in the U.S. These events include the 2013 America’s Cup Finals in September in San Francisco Bay, Louis Vuitton Cup, America’s Cup Challenger Series, and the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. US Sailing members will also be invited to join the America’s Cup Fan Club, gaining exclusive benefits.

US Sailing and the America’s Cup will work collectively on efforts to provide awareness for those interested in learning to sail and information on how sailors can further their opportunities to go sailing. In early 2013, US Sailing will create a special website that connects visitors of http://www.americascup.com/ to an online hub where fans can access “Learn to Sail / Where to sail” content.

Representatives of the America’s Cup will speak at various US Sailing Roadshow events at select locations on the west coast in the summer of 2013. US Sailing’s Roadshow crew makes stops at sailing venues with goals of promoting the overall enjoyment and accessibility of sailing, interacting with sailors in a variety of ways, and educating sailors of the programs and services provided by US Sailing.

“We are thrilled to engage with passionate America’s Cup fans around the country who are excited about the Cup being decided in U.S. waters next year,” said Jack Gierhart, US Sailing Executive Director. “Members of US Sailing will have a special, unique opportunity to watch America’s Cup events and enhance their overall spectator experience. The America’s Cup is a celebration of great sailboat racing and we believe these events will inspire newcomers to learn more about our sport and current sailors to get out on the water.”

“The America’s Cup is back in America for the first time since 1995,” said Stephen Barclay, CEO of America’s Cup Event Authority. “The strength of the challenging teams, and the transformed America’s Cup with extreme performance AC72s competing in San Francisco, means this will be one of the most keenly anticipated competitions in years. By working with the sport’s national authority here in the U.S., we’ll connect directly with committed fans and be able to channel the interest of new fans to ways they can experience sailing for the first time themselves.”